sanditon(桑底顿)-第14节
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constrained so to act； he must naturally wish to strike out
something new； to exceed those who had gone before him—and he
felt a strong curiosity to ascertain whether the Neighbourhood of
Tombuctoo might not afford some solitary House adapted for
Clara’s reception；—but the Expence alas！ of Measures in that
masterly style was ill…suited to his Purse； and Prudence obliged
him to prefer the quietest sort of ruin and disgrace for the object of
his Affections； to the more renowned。
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CHAPTER IX
ne day； soon after Charlotte’s arrival at Sanditon； she had
the pleasure of seeing just as she ascended from the
O
Sands to the Terrace； a Gentleman’s Carriage with Post
Horses standing at the door of the Hotel； as very lately arrived；
and by the quantity of Luggage taking off； bringing； it might be
hoped； some respectable family determined on a long residence。—
Delighted to have such good news for Mr。 and Mrs。 P。； who had
both gone home some time before； she proceeded for Trafalgar
House with as much alacrity as could remain； after having been
contending for the last two hours with a very fine wind blowing
directly on shore； but she had not reached the little Lawn； when
she saw a Lady walking nimbly behind her at no great distance；
and convinced that it could be no acquaintance of her own； she
resolved to hurry on and get into the House if possible before her。
But the Stranger’s pace did not allow this to be accomplished；—
Charlotte was on the steps and had rung； but the door was not
opened； when the other crossed the Lawn；—and when the Servant
appeared； they were just equally ready for entering the House。—
The ease of the Lady； her ‘How do you do Morgan？’ and Morgan’s
Looks on seeing her； were a moment’s astonishment—but another
moment brought Mr。 P。 into the Hall to welcome the Sister he had
seen from the Drawing room； and she was soon introduced to Miss
Diana Parker。 There was a great deal of surprise but still more
pleasure in seeing her。—Nothing could be kinder than her
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reception from both Husband and Wife。 ‘How did she come？ and
with whom？—And they were so glad to find her equal to the
Journey！—And that she was to belong to them； was a thing of
course。’ Miss Diana P。 was about four and thirty； of middling
height and slender；—delicate looking rather than sickly； with an
agreable face； and a very animated eye；—her manners resembling
her Brother’s in their ease and frankness； though with more
decision and less mildness in her Tone。 She began an account of
herself without delay。—Thanking them for their Invitation； but
‘that was quite out of the question； for they were all three come；
and meant to get into Lodgings and make some stay。’—‘All three
come！—What！—Susan and Arthur！—Susan able to come too！—
This was better and better。’ ‘Yes—we are actually all come。 Quite
unavoidable—Nothing else to be done。—You shall hear all about
it。—But my dear Mary； send for the Children；—I long to see
them。’—‘And how has Susan born the Journey？—and how is
Arthur？—and why do not we see him here with you？’—‘Susan has
born it wonderfully。 She had not a wink of sleep either the night
before we set out； or last night at Chichester； and as this is not so
common with her as with me； I have had a thousand fears for
her—but she had kept up wonderfully—had no Hysterics of
consequence till we came within sight of poor old Sanditon—and
the attack was not very violent—nearly over by the time we
reached your Hotel—so that we got her out of the Carriage
extremely well； with only Mr。 Woodcock’s assistance—and when I
left her she was directing the Disposal of the Luggage； and helping
old Sam uncord the Trunks。—She desired her best Love； with a
thousand regrets at being so poor a Creature that she could not
come with me。 And as for poor Arthur； he would not have been
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unwilling himself； but there is so much Wind that I did not think
he could safely venture；—for I am sure there is Lumbago hanging
about him—and so I helped him on with his great Coat and sent
him off to the Terrace； to take us Lodgings。—Miss Heywood must
have seen our Carriage standing at the Hotel。—I knew Miss
Heywood the moment I saw her before me on the Down。—My dear
Tom I am so glad to see you walk so well。 Let me feel your
Ancle。—That’s right； all right and clean。 The play of your Sinews a
very little affected：—barely perceptible。—Well—now for the
explanation of my being here。—I told you in my Letter； of the two
considerable Families； I was hoping to secure for you—the West
Indians； and the Seminary。’ Here Mr。 P。 drew his Chair still nearer
to his Sister； and took her hand again most affectionately as he
answered ‘Yes； Yes；—How active and how kind you have been！’—
‘The West…indians；’ she continued； ‘whom I look upon as the most
desirable of the two—as the Best of the Good—prove to be a Mrs。
Griffiths and her family。 I know them only through others。—You
must have heard me mention Miss Capper； the particular friend of
my very particular friend Fanny Noyce；—now； Miss Capper is
extremely intimate with a Mrs。 Darling； who is on terms of
constant correspondence with Mrs。 Griffiths herself。—Only a short
chain； you see； between us； and not a Link wanting。 Mrs。 G。 meant
to go to the Sea； for her Young People’s benefit—had fixed on the
coast of Sussex； but was undecided as to the where； wanted
something Private； and wrote to ask the opinion of her friend Mrs。
Darling。—Miss Capper happened to be staying with Mrs。 D。 when
Mrs。 G。’s Letter arrived； and was consulted on the question； she
wrote the same day to Fanny Noyce and mentioned it to her—and
Fanny all alive for us； instantly took up her pen and forwarded the
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circumstance to me—except as to Names—which have but lately
transpired。—There was but one thing for me to do。—I answered
Fanny’s Letter by the same Post and pressed for the
recommendation of Sanditon。 Fanny had feared your having no
house large enough to receive such a Family。—But I seem to be
spinning out my story to an endless length。—You see how it was
all managed。 I had the pleasure of hearing soon afterwards by the
same simple link of connection that Sanditon had been
recommended by Mrs。 Darling； and that the West…indians were
very much disposed to go thither。—This was the state of the case
when I wrote to you；—but two days ago；—yes； the day before
yesterday—I heard again from Fanny Noyce； saying that she had
heard from Miss Capper； who by a Letter from Mrs。 Darling
understood that Mrs。 G。 has expressed herself in a letter to Mrs。 D。
more doubtingly on the subject of Sanditon。—Am I clear？ I would
be anything rather than not clear。’—‘Oh！ perfectly； perfectly。
Well？’—‘The reason of this hesitation；
